Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Steve Jobs, This Was Your Life (Part 3)

Steve Job’s return to Apple as “iCEO” sparked the change for the better. In 1998, Apple released the all-in-one iMac desktop, which at the time were shaped like futuristic television sets. Consumers responded well with the iMacs, thus starting Apple’s return to profitably while ditching the products that did not work for them like the Newton.

Apple officially declared Jobs as its CEO in 2000, removing the “interim” label in the process. The “iDevices” continue to roll out with the introduction of the first version of iPod in 2001, which was released along with the iTunes software. Apple also unveils the OS X computers, which was powered with the new Mac operating system based on the NeXT software.

The success of iPod and iTunes was followed by the launch of the iTunes Music Store in 2003, which enabled iPod users to browse up to 200,000 songs and download them at 99 cents eachs. This gave consumers a convenient way to buy music legally online. The iTunes sold 1 million songs on its first week alone. The good news takes an unexpected turn in 2004 after Apple disclosed that Jobs underwent surgery for a rare but curable form of pancreatic cancer. Everybody thought he would be fine, but his illness turned out to be his life’s greatest battle.

Apple continued its momentum as it expanded the iPod line in 2005 with the tiny iPod Nano and an iPod with video playback. The company also announced that Macs from thereon will feature Intel chips. In 2006, Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion, making Jobs the largest individual shareholder of Disney. A year later, Apple’s first smartphone–the iPhone–was released. Its retail launch was an event on its own, as crowds camped overnight at stores to get their hands first to the new iPhone.

Jobs continued to suffer from cancer, which became more evident with his dramatic weight loss. There were even speculations in 2008 about Job’s death, which he refuted with an appearance at an Apple event. He claimed that his weight loss was caused by a “treatable hormonal imbalance.” Despite his wanting to continue to lead Apple, he went on medical leave in 2009 to undergo a liver transplant. During Jobs’ absence, COO Tim Cook took over day-to-day operations. Jobs returned to work that same year.

The iEra continued in 2010 with the iPad, which started the new market for modern-day touch-screen tablet computers. Apple sold 15 million iPads in nine months.

On January 17, 2011, Jobs announced a second medical leave to his employees. Although he still retains the CEO title, Jobs did not mention when he would return to the company. Once again, Cook stepped in on Jobs’ behalf. On August 24, Apple announced that Jobs resigned as CEO and became chairman. Cook took over as CEO upon Jobs’ recommendation.

Jobs spent his final days in his home in Palo Alto, California, until he breathed his last on October 5, 2011. It was later revealed that his death was due to respiratory failure, which was resulted from complications of pancreatic cancer.